Car-coupling.



No. 826,120. PIATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

J. B. SHERMAN. GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15. 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

No. 826,120. PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

J. B. SHERMAN.

OAR COUPLING.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 15. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ll NITEI) STATES PATENT oFFro CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed September 15, 1905. Serial No. 278.637-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BLANOHARD SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Council Bluffs, in the county of Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in railway car-couplers for use in connecting cars of freight and passenger trains.

The object of my invention is to provide a more perfect action of the knuckle of the coupling-head, a means for uncoupling by the operator without going between cars, the provision of a visible means for determining that the cars are coupled.

The invention also has special reference to the construction and mounting of a drawbar or lifting-block for the locking of the knuckles within the coupling-head and the provision of a continuous flange upon the coupling-head, the oint action of which is to prevent accidental dislodgement of the coupler and consequent derailment of the car.

With these and other objects in view my invention presents novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as disclosed herein and more fully pointed out by the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the liftingblock. Fig. 3 represents a top view of the invention. Fig. 4 is a top view of the lifting-block. Fig. 5 is a representation of two couplers, each being a top view of Fig. 1, the body of the coupler being a section on the side line'a b of Fig. 1 to disclose arrangement of parts. Fig. 6 represents a top view of the knuckle, and Figs. 7 and 8 two sides thereof. Figs. 9, 10, 11 are perspective front views to illustrate different altitudes of the liftingblock by contacting movement of the knuckle. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the coupler in operative position upon a car to illustrate operating means. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the lifting-block.

*1 construct a coupler-body 1 with the coupler-head 2, having suitable hinge members 3 and 4, adapted to sustain the knuckle 5 therein and held in position by the pin 6 passing therethrough. The pin operates as a pivotal mounting in a manner common to car-couplers, so that the knuckle may have a two knuckles 5 may be locked, as hereinafter described. I construct the chamber 13, Figs. 9, 10, and 11, also shown by the broken lines o d in Fig. 1, within the coupler-body, and I provide the lifting-block 14, having lugs 15 at one end.

The chamber 13 is provided with horizontal grooves 16, Fig. 5. The body of the coupler may and preferably will be constructed as one integral portion, and the chamber 13, as well as the grooves 16, are so formed as to allow the lifting-block 14, with the lugs thereon, to be seated therein, the spacing of the grooves 16 being adapted to contain the lugs 15, and when the block 14 is placed in operative position the lugs ride upon the grooves 16 until they reach the end of chamber 13, at which time they drop into the slots 17, Fig. 5. The block 14 therefore is adapted to have a slight radial movement within the chamber 13 vertically upon this pivotal bearing.

I construct the arm 18 upon the block,

which is housed within the slot 19 of the coupler-body and is provided with the angular extension 20. The arm 18 and the block 14 have thread-and-groove connection, and

therefore the connection may be made after;-

the block 14 has been seated.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show the form of the knuckle, it having the facets 21 and 22. The block 14 is provided with a diagonallyformed facet 23 at the end adjacent to the knuckle. (Best shown in Fig. 13.) V g The operation of the locking device will be readily understood. Cars are moved end-' Wise against each other for the purpose of coupling. The knuckle of the opposite car strikes within the housing-walls of the coupler-head, the knuckles contacting and partially inclosing each other. The locking of the knuckles is effected by this movement.

The facets 21 and 22 of the knuckle are irregular planes, and when the knuckle of the op IIO posite car is forced within this housing ofthe coupling-head facet 21 of the knuckle first comes in contact with facet 23 of the block. These facets being both upon the same plane at the time of contact block 14 is therefore raised by the driving force of the knuckle until facet 22 of the knuckle makes a contact with said facet 23 of the block, which causes the block to rise somewhat higher until the face of wall 24 of the knuckle makes a presentation parallel with the block, at which time the block falls by its own weight, which locks the knuckle from further movement until the block has been raised by the operator when uncoupling the cars. Fig. 9 shows the knuckle as presenting these facets. Fig. 10 shows facet 21 engaging the block, the latter being partly raised, and Fig. 11 shows the vertical face-wall 24 of the knuckle alongside the block after the knuckle has been locked. During the process of locking the knuckle, as just described, the radial movement of knuckle 5 upon pin 6 causes the facets to be presented upon the same plane as that of facets 21 of the block, and the movement is smooth and the locking of the knuckles is certain, regardless of the degree of concussion of the cars. The upper wall 9, as well as the lower wall 10, of the coupler-head at this time prevents the escape of the knuckle of the opposite car. In the use of car-couplers heretofore derailment has frequently been caused by escape of the knuckles, one end of the draw-bar dropping upon the track. It is the purpose of the invention to prevent this accident and by use.

of the locking-bar 14 and housing-walls 9 and 10 to prevent such accidents.

Uncoupling of the car is effected by using lever 25, Fig. 12, which is attached to the car-wall 27. This lever controls the link 26. The link 26 engages the extension 20 of the arm 18, and the operator may readily uncouple the car by moving this lever without being between cars. The position of the arm 18 within the slot 19 is visible notice of the position of the bar, and consequently whether or not the cars are coupled.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a car-coupler, the combination with a pivotallymounted knuckle, of a chambered draw-head having a substantially rectangularly-formed open end, a chambered draw-b ar having a vertically-extending opening formed within one of its side walls, a locking-bar pivotally mounted in said chambered draw-bar and extending within said chambered draw-head, an arm rigidlymount- 2. In a car-coupler, the combination with a pivotally -mounted knuckle, of a chambered draw-head having a substantially rectangularly formed open end, a chambered draw-bar having a vertically-extending opening formed within one of its side walls, a locking-bar pivotally mounted in said chambered draw-bar and extending within said chambered draw-head, an arm rigidly mounted upon said locking-bar and seated within the vertically extending opening formed within the side wall of said chambered drawbar, and means for raising said lug.

3. A car-coupler, in combination with a pivotally-mounted knuckle having a plurality of facets formed upon is surface, of a chambered draw-head having walls terminating at its open end upon substantially the same vertical plane, a chambered draw-bar having a vertically-extended opening formed within one of its side walls, a locking-bar pivotally mounted within said chambered draw-bar and making contact with the facets upon said pivotally-mounted knuckle, an arm rigidly mounted upon said locking-bar and seated within the vertically-extended opening formed within the side wall of said chambered draw-bar.

4. A car-coupler, in combination with a pivotally-mounted knuckle having a plurality of facets formed upon its surface, of a chambered draw-head having walls terminating at its open end upon substantially the same a vertically-extended opening formed within one of its side walls, a locking-bar pivotally mounted within said chambered draw-bar and making contact with the facets upon said pivotally-mounted knuckle, an arm rigidly mounted upon said locking-bar and seated within the vertically extended opening formed within the side Wall of said champered draw-bar, and means for raising said 5. In a car-coupling, the combination with a chambered draw-head of a pivoted knuckle with a tailpiece having irregluarly-surfaced facets formed thereon, a chambered drawbar having lengthwise-extending grooves 16, slots 17 and aperture 19; a locking-bar adapted to make contact with saidfacets, and having lugs 15, and the transversely-mounted arm 18; said arm 18 adapted to have a seating within said aperture 19, and means to cause a raising movement of said arm 18 substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN BLANCHARD SHERMAN.

Witnesses:

Fnnnnnro BACON, JEPTHA B. RANDOLPH.

vertical plane, a chambered draw-bar having 

